Angel of Hope
A memorial statue in Westgate Park dedicated to all parents who have lost a child. A sanctuary for comfort, healing, and remembrance.
Literary Inspiration
Inspired by the bestselling book The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans, where a mother mourns her child at an angel's base.
The word "HOPE" is engraved on the statue's right wing, offering a message of resilience to grieving families.
A Night of Remembrance
Located in Westgate Park (535 Recreation Road).
Annual Candlelight Vigil
December 6th @ 7:00 PM
Wings of Peace
The statue depicts an angel with outstretched arms and an upward gaze, symbolizing hope. For many parents without a physical gravesite to visit, this memorial serves as a vital touchstone for reflection and connection.
"A special place to visit and reflect, regardless of the child's age."
Dedication
November 2016
Project Lead
Steve Hardwick
Community Project
A community-led beacon of light in the darkness, offering a place where hope is never lost.
History & Background
The Angel of Hope is a memorial sculpture associated with the work of Richard Paul Evans, author of "The Christmas Box," whose books have inspired memorial gardens for bereaved parents across the United States. The original "Christmas Box Angel" memorial was installed in Salt Lake City in 1994, and Evans subsequently encouraged communities nationwide to create similar spaces for parents who have lost children. These memorials serve as gathering places for grief, remembrance, and healing.
Alabama communities have embraced the Angel of Hope tradition as part of a broader culture of public commemoration and faith. The statue typically depicts an angel with downcast eyes in a posture of sorrow and comfort, creating a contemplative space for visitors. These memorials are particularly meaningful in Alabama, where communities have strong traditions of faith, family, and communal support through loss. Thousands of families visit Angel of Hope memorials nationwide on or around December 6th — an annual memorial day for bereaved parents designated by Evans.
Public memorials for grief occupy an important place in American civic life. Unlike traditional monuments that celebrate achievement, they create space for acknowledging loss and supporting those who carry it. An Angel of Hope in an Alabama community reflects the community's willingness to acknowledge that loss and grief are universal human experiences deserving public recognition alongside celebration. These statues remind visitors that communities care for each other through sorrow as well as joy.
Nearby Attractions
Local Parks and Green Spaces
Angel of Hope memorials are typically situated in peaceful park settings, designed for quiet contemplation. Explore the surrounding park and community, which often contains additional historical markers, gardens, and public amenities that reveal the character of the local community hosting the memorial.
Alabama's State Parks
Alabama maintains a remarkable network of state parks offering lake recreation, hiking, golf, and camping. Cheaha State Park (at the summit of Alabama's highest point) and Gulf State Park (with beach access on the Gulf of Mexico) represent the extremes of the state's geographic diversity. Most Alabama state parks offer excellent facilities at very reasonable prices.
Alabama's Civil Rights Trail
Alabama is home to many of the most significant sites in American Civil Rights history. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice together tell an essential American story. These sites are among the most important historical destinations in the United States.